The Maldives witnessed a groundbreaking event as the Maldives Ocean Hackathon 2023 unfolded at Crossroads Maldives from the 15th to the 17th of October. This unique initiative brought together environmental champions and tech innovators for a common cause – preserving the pristine marine ecosystems and combating climate change. The event was organized by the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralization & Diversification (DMADD) project, implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, and funded by the World Bank.

A Confluence of Environmental Champions and Tech Minds

Ten teams from a pool of 21 applications were shortlisted to participate in the Maldives Ocean Hackathon, a 48-hour sprint of creativity and innovation. The event provided a platform for the Environmental Champions to collaborate closely with brilliant tech minds, making it a pioneering effort in the Maldives.The teams took part in various self-development activities, guided by mentors with backgrounds in environmental science. The facilitator of the hackathon, Sparkhub, conducted mentoring sessions on ideation, product development, and pitching of ideas.

The Winning Innovations

UDHA by Team MSRO - 1st Place

The winning app “UDHA” was presented by the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO). UDHA helps us understand the potential impact of disasters, where flooding will be most severe and which areas and communities will be most affected. This is done by helping us understand land deformation in our islands down to a millimeter level using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR). UDHA shows the benefits space technology such as SAR can offer to the Maldives in solving our most pressing issues faced by the population.

cliMVatch - 2nd Place

cliMVatch, the second-place winner, developed an innovative app a web application designed for the Maldives, offers a comprehensive view of climate data utilizing the long-term historical data collected by the Maldives Meteorological Services. Users can select locations and specific dates to explore historical climate information, including daily, weekly, and annual averages. Interactive wind rose diagrams provide insights into seasonal variations in wind patterns, benefiting industries such as tourism and marine activities. CliMVatch also dives into decadal variations, supporting long-term planning and climate resilience. The app serves as a versatile decision support tool for a range of users, from designers and planners to tourists and stakeholders. With real-time updates, CliMVatch ensures users stay informed and prepared for the unique climate challenges in the Maldives.

Veshi Rakka - 3rd Place

Project VeshiRakka is designed to be online portal, to address coastal erosion issues in low-lying nations like the Maldives. During the recent Ocean Hackathon, a specialized AI model was created to calculate island areas when coordinates and photos are provided whether from a satellite or drone, and future plans include incorporating crowdsourcing. This model performs well with unsupervised data and tracks registered sites. Once we have enough data, the model will enable central and local governments to allocate resources effectively in areas that need it most.The project seeks to eliminate discrepancies in the reported number of islands in Maldives by providing a comprehensive solution once fully developed. While coastal erosion is the initial focus, it has broader ambitions, including monitoring island vegetation, reef health, biosphere analysis, predictions, and more. Ultimately, the system is planned to be decentralized, marking a significant advancement in comprehensive environmental monitoring.

Partners

The Maldives Ocean Hackathon was made possible through the support of various partners and sponsors. Dhiraagu provided each team with a broadband package to continue their product development efforts. Microsoft offered credits of $150,000 towards Azure OpenAI Services and post-hackathon support by mentors and engineers.The Maldives Islamic Bank, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, generously contributed to the event by offering the second and third-place prizes. International partners Microsoft and X Prize also played crucial roles in ensuring the hackathon's success.

A Pioneering Step in Combating Climate Change

The Maldives Ocean Hackathon 2023 has been a landmark event, reflecting the Maldives' commitment to combat climate change and preserve its pristine marine ecosystems for future generations. By bringing together innovative tech solutions and a passion for environmental preservation, the hackathon stands as a beacon of hope for the Maldives' sustainable future.